Concrete-block machine.



C. P. FLOWERS.

CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 22, 1910. 1,048,51 5.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

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U5-W y 9% n/w@ coLuMnM pLANon num co., WASHINGTON, n4 cA C. P. FLOWERS.

CONCRETE BLOOK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEO.22, 1910. 1,048,51 5. Patented 1160.31, 1912.

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C. P. FLOWERS. CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DE 1,048,515. o 22 191 Patented Dec.31,1912.

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Charles P.Fl.0we\^s (5l/@Hmmm t WM cuLuMulA PLANOURAPM cu.,wAsH|NuToN. u. c4

C. P. FLOWERS.

CONCRETE BLOCK MACHINE.

u PLIoATIoN Hmm 13110.22. 1910.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

C. P. FLOWERS.

coNcRBTE BLooK MAOHINB.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO. 22, 1910A Patented Dec.31, 1912 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

."llllml coLuMmA PLANO UNITED STATES FFTCE.

CHARLES P. FLOWERS, F POCAI-IONTAS, ARKANSAS, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO FERDINAND SPINNENWEBER, OF POCAHONTAS, ARKANSAS.

CONCRETE-BLOCK MACHINE.

miams.

Specification of Letters Patent.

llatented Dec. 31, 1912.

Application filed December 22, 1910. Serial No. 598,718.

To all whom it may coo/:ern

Be it known that I, CHARLES l). FLownns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pocahontas, in the county of Randolph, State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concrete Block Machines; and 'I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in concrete block molding machines and my object is in general to improve the construction of the machine, particularly with a view to decreasing the amount of manual labor necessary for the operation of the same.

More particularly the invention resides in the provision of means for accomplishing the following specific objects viz: to more efficiently consumate the pressing operation; to automatically lock the various mold sections in closed position; to enable the mold opening operations to be' performed from a single point; to free the molded block from the mold surfaces.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in a certain construction, combination and arrangement of parts and details as is hereinafter more fully described, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the aecompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In these drawings which are attached to and form a part of this application, Figure l is a side elevation of a complete molding machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the molding machine removed from the press. Fig. l a transverse section on the line Jr--t of Fig. 3. Fig. a top plan view showing the mold opened to discharge a block. Fig. (l is a longitudinal sectional elevation on the line (3 6 of Fig. Fig. T is a detail section of the mold end and securing means. Fig. S is a detail end elevation of the mold bottom member and the side retaining member. Fig. 9 is a detail section on the line 5)-1-2) of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the back mold board detached. Fig. 1l is a detail plan view of the double ended catch showing the method of operation of the salne. Fig. 12 is a detail perspective of the tilting side member of the mold.

Referring more specifically to these views, in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout, 10 indicates in general the frame of the mold carrier. This frame comprises the two head portions l1 connected at top and bottom by the longitudinal members here designated l2 and 13 respectively. The heads as shown are provided with the conventional roller feet here shown at 14. The lower longitudinal member 13 is extended beyond the heads and the outwardly extending ends are bifurcated as at 15 to provide 'journals 1G. The upper longitudinal member or more properly members l2 are provided with similar extensions 1T of somewhat greater length than the lower extensions and said cantaliver extensions are preferably braced by triangular castings or the like as shown at 18.

Referring to the top plan view of Fig. 5 it will be seen that the members l2 are spaced apart, and positioned so that the extensions aline vertically with the bifurcated extensions of the member 13. A cylindrical bearing pin 19 is journaled at l5, said pin serving to secure the swinging end lever 20. As is best shown in Fig. (S this lever is mounted 'tor oscillation between the spaced top .members l2. Adjacent the upper end of the lever Q0, its outer face Q1. is cut arcuately while to the inner face of the same extremity is secured the undercut member 2Q, which as shown in Fig. 7 coacts with the gibbed channel Q3 formed in the outer face of the mold end block 24, thus securing said block in slidable relation with the lever 20. Tt. will further be observed however that the said channel Q3 docs not extend completely through the block 24, and the downward motion of said block is hence limited.

The operating mechanism for the lever Q() comprises a hand cam carried on a journal 9G between the spaced longitudinal members 12, and connecting links 27 pivotally secured to the cam and to the lever at QS and Q9 respectively. A hand lever 30 .is formed integrally with the cam and by means of this lever the said cam .may be oscillatcd upon the journal 2G to occupy either the open position shown in Fig. G or the closed position shown in Fig. l.

Referring to the last named figure it will be seen that the true cam surface of the member 25 is cut to the same radius as the outer face 21 of the swinging lever 20 so that in the closed position of the apparatus the cam -surface, here designated 31 will contact withfethe surface 21 and positively lock the lever 2O in its inwardly swung position. It will thus be seen that while the member has been called a cam, its true function is to prevent motion and not to transmit motion, the latter function being performed by the pivots 28 which serve as cranks to actuate the connecting links 27.

I have only described the operating mechanism of one end of the mold but since the opposite end is identical therewith the same description will be understood to apply to both.

Referring to the detail view of Fig. 8 it will be seen that the mold bottom member here designated 32 is secured to the inner faces of a pair of L-shaped castings 33 best shown in Fig. 4. On the inner faces of the other arms of these castings is secured a side retaining member 34, on which rests the mold side proper 35. rlhe mold side 35 comprises a plate having a smooth inner surface and an outer surface provided with the I- shaped reinforcing and retaining rib 36. As shown in Fig. 9 this rib co-acts with an extension 40 formed on t-he inner face of the piece 34 to prevent longitudinal sliding of the mold side 35. 1t will also be seen from this figure that the extended portion 40 has its ends out along converging lines in order to facilitate the positioning of the side 35 by guiding the rib 36. Pivoted at 41 to the end edges of the mold bottom 32 are the two levers 43 the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. 1n order to secure the bottom and side frame in the frame of the machine, the castings 33 are pivotally mounted on a rod 44 extending through the apertures 45 formed in the L-pieces adjacent the angles thereof. This rod is secured longitudinally of the frame 10 in openings 46 formed to aline with each other in the head portions l1. Referring to the sectional view of Fig. 4 the bottom and side frame is shown occupying its forwardly tilted or closed position, the bottom mold piece resting upon the castings 33 and the side of the mold extending vertically and at right angles thereto. 1n this position the pivoted levers 43 lie substantially horizontal, resting near their outer extremities upon the Lipper faces of the frame heads 11. As is best shown in Fig. 2 the corners of the head melnbers 11 are cut along a curve as shown in 44. It will be seen that as the side and bottom frame section is tilted open the levers 43 will slide upon the faces 44 which will act as cams to swing said levers about their pivots, and this swinging motion will cause the side pieces 35 to slide transversely on the inner face of the side retaining piece 34. In order to expedite the tilting operation before mentioned, a foot lever 47 is pivoted at 43 in journals carried by the lower longitudinal member 13 and the outer end of this lever is pivotally coupled at 49 to a thrust rod 50 which extends upwardly-in the frame and bears against the under face of the mold bottom piece. It will be seen that by pressing a pedal 51 which is formed integrally on the end of the lever 47, the same may be swung and by means of the thrust member the half mold frame may be expeditiously tilted outward by a short foot movement, the pressure on the pedal first moving the free end of the thrust member across the under face of the mold until itstrikes against the member l2 opposite that against which it normally rests, said member then causing the thrust member to move upwardly and thus tilt the mold.

Referring again to Fig. 2 it will be seen that the head portions 1l are provided at one corner with the vertical standards here designated 52 which as shown in Fig. 3 have both longitudinal faces cut to form the vertical V-shaped channels 53. Bearing against the inner faces of these standards and secured in sliding contact therewith by means of grips 54, is the rear side face of the mold, here designated 55, the resiliency of these grips serving to hold the rear side face of the mold in raised position until pressure is applied to lower the same. Secured to the outer face of this mold board are the two L-shaped members 56. One arm of each member 56 extends outwardly at right angles to the mold board 55 and is bifurcated to form a way 57, the outer ends of the two ways being closed and the L- pieces braced by a connecting member 53 secured between the bifurcated points. The other arm of each L bears against the outer face of the mold wall and extends below the same, and in these extended portions elevating notches 59 are formed.

Mounted to slide in the ways 57 is the core connector 58 which comprises a central portion 59 of rectangular section, reduced portions of square section here designated 60 which engage the ways, and cylindrical end extensions 61 which extend outwardly to co-act with operating linkages as will hereinafter appear. To the inner face of the rectangular portion 59 are secured the cores, three of which designated 62 are shown in the present instance. These cores lie parallel to the ways 57 and extend through core apertures 63 in the mold wall 55, and the lengths of the core, mold and ways are so proportioned that in the closed position of said mold the cores will extend completely through the same and when the member 58 is withdrawn to the outer end of the ways the core ends will be flush with or slightly at the rear of the inner face of the mold wall.

Pivoted at 64 and 65 on pivot pins 66 and 67 extending thro-ugh the heads 11 are the rocking levers 68 and 69 respectively. The upper ends of these levers are slotted as at 70 and 71 for the reception of the cylindrical end extensions 61 of the core connector 5S. Motion is communicated to the rocking levers through connecting links 72 and 73 secured to the side members of a yoke 74. This yoke comprises the two side members above mentioned which are pivoted in journals carried by the upper ends of the standard 52 and a connecting member or handle 7 9 to be mo-re particularly described hereafter.

The apparatus so far described co-mprises a complete molding machine which may be operated in the customary manner as follows: The mold being in the open position shown in Fig. 6, the side and bottom frame is swung into place, the hand cams 25 are oscillated to bring the mold ends into operative position, and the yoke 74 is turned forward until the side pieces 7 5 or the hook terminals 75 formed thereon engage over the outer face of the side retaining member 34, thus locking the entire mold in a closed position. In order to exert a clamping action the connector or handle 79V above referred to is made to serve as a cam, the specific construction being clearly shown in Fig. 4. It. will be seen that if the extended portion here designated 79 be used as a lever to rotate the handle, the face 80 which bears against the outer face of the piece 34 will press the latter inwardly and serve to tight-ly grip the various wall segments together.

Journaled on studs S1 extending from the inner faces of the heads 11 are the two elevating levers 82. The inwardly extending ends of these levers engage the elevating notches 59 which as above stated are formed in the vertical legs of the angles pieces which are secured to the back of the rear mold board. These levers are provided with slots 82 through which the rod 141 passes and are therefore free for swinging movement upon the stud 81. The opposite ends of the levers S2 are extended outwardly from the molding machine frame and provided with terminals S41 having upwardly directed bearing faces 85 which are so positioned as to form rests for the tilting side retaining wall 34 in its open position.

Journaled on the bearing rod 14 above mentioned is a bow 86 the ends of which, here designated 87 and SS, are connected by links 89 and 90 respectively to a longitudinal member 91 which is journaled for oscillation in a second pair of rocking levers 92 and 93 pivoted co-axially with the first named rocking levers 69 and GS respectively. The upper ends of the levers 92 and 93 are bifurcated as shown at 93 and between the forks thereof the extensions 61 of the core connector 58 operate.

The press adapted for use with the ino-ld carrier above described is llargely of conventional construction, comprising a base portion 95 in which is laid a track 96 of a suitable gage to [it the roller feet of the mold carrier. Arising from the base is the frame designated as a whole by 9T in which is mounted the hand operated toggle-joint press-linkage 9S. Particular attention however is directed to the stop or locking mechanism, for the mold carrier by which the latter is secured on the track in proper position beneath the press. Pivo-ted for horizontal movement on the longitudinal meinber of the base 95 is a double ended dog 100 having the hook terminals 101. The hook terminals 101 have their faces cut along an incline as shown at 102, and by referring to the detail plan view of the dog as shown in Fig. 11 it will be seen'that the saine is so shaped as to insure the presence in operative position of at least one of the terminals. If upon rolling the mold carrier into the press frame the nearer terminal of the dog lies across the track, the foot of the carrier will strike against the inclined face ot' the terminal and swing the dog on its pivot so that the opposite terminal will be moved into operative position across the track. This operation or rather the consecutive positions of the dog are shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 11. If the dog is originally positioned as shown in the dotted line the swinging will of course be unnecessary. It will be observed however that irrespective of the position which the dog occupies, the approach of the mold carrier will always cause it to assume a position to stop and lock the same and the molds may thus be rolled into the press-frame without attendance or care of any kind.

The operation of the complete machine is as follows: As a beginning it will be assinned that the mold is closed and locked shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the rear face being in an elevated position to raise the cores somewhat above the position they are to occupy in the block. By some means, immaterial to the present invention the mold is filled with concrete mixture and rolled into position beneath the press, being stopped at the pro-per point by the dog as above described. The press is then operated to exert pressure on the open face or top of the mold.

In this connection attention is called to the peculiar conditions met with in molding a semi-fluid, particularly when the same contains numerous solid particles of'considerable size. Difficulty has frequently been experienced in this art in securing a homogeneous structure in a cored block owing to the fact that since pressure is commonly applied only to the top surface of the mold, that portion of the block which is beneath the cores may not be depended upon at all times to flow and thus equalize the pressure throughout the block. Imperfections similar in effect though not in cause to the blow-holes of metallic castings result from this conditio-n. lt is a primary object of this invention to decrease the liability of the occurrence of such flaws by causing the cores to move downwardly at the same time that pressure is applied to the open surface of the mold. lThis result l accomplish by forming the core carrier which in the present instance consists in the rear face of the mold, slidable, and by attaching suitable means tothe press block to cause the cores to be moved downwardly simultaneous with the descent of the block. ln the present instance the above mentioned means comprises a simple offset portion 103 formed on the side of the pressblock and adapted to bear over the upper edge of the mold side board 55 by which the cores are carried. lt will thus be seen that as the press-block descends the cores will also be moved downwardly to tamp or compress the material beneath them at the same time that the pressure is applied to the open surface of the concrete, a downward motion of the rear mold wall being limited by its Contact with the upper ends of the frame members 1l. A pressure formed block of homogeneous structure having been formed as above described, th-e press-block is elevated, and the mold carrier rolled out of the press-frame. To open the mold, the handle-cam Z9 is released and the yoke elevated to release the hook terminals of the side pieces 7l. rThe bow 8G is then tilted or swung outward which causes the yoke 74 to swing backward and the cores to be simultaneously withdrawn from the block. rl`he hand cams 25 are then-swung outward which withdraws the mold and boards. By applying his weight to the pedal 51 the operator tilts the swinging frame, which carries the bottom and front mold boards, outward. As this frame swings outward the levers 43 act ont-he cam faces of the heads 1l as before described and cause the front mold board to slide upwardly or outwardly thus breaking contact with the molded block by a sliding action which is least liable to injure the same. In its outwardly tilted position the swinging frame bears upon the faces of the elevating levers before described and the weight of the block causes these levers to tilt, which tilting action results in the cores and the rear mold board which carries them being elevated into the initial position. The front mold board may then be removed with the block resting thereon and a new one substituted. To close the mold the hand-cams 25y are swung inwardly, the tilting frame with a new front board in place having previously been tilted backward, and by turning the bow 8G upwardly the cores are caused to enter the mold while the yoke swings over until it may be reached from the front. The final closing and locking is by the 0peration of the` handle-cam as above described.

lt will be noted that the tilting mold section is locked inv place by t-he locking in place of the end sections of t-he mold, this being accomplished by the end members which, when in locked position, rest upon the upper faces of the levers 43 carried by the bottom member of the mold.

From the above description it will be apparent that the molding machine may be operated by a single unskilled laborer in a minimum time, since it is possible to perform all operations from the front of the machine with a few simple movements, as is obvious. It will also be apparent that the machine is semi-automatic in its operation, particularly with reference to the movements of the cores and the block freeing motions.

rl`he improved machine may be made in various sizes and of any desired material to conform to personal judgment or manufacturing requirements and it will also be understood that although the various mechanisms herein described co-act to form a single whole, various changes may be made in particular mechanisms without destroying the integrity of the main scheme of operation or departing from the spirit of this inventio-n.

lll/hat I claim is:

l. ln a machine for molding cored building blocks, including a mold and a movable core, means for moving the core transversely of the mold, and means independent of the pressure of the mold contents for moving the core vertically of the mold.

2. ln a machine for molding cored building blocks, the combination with a pressblock movable vertically, of a mold having one wall formed with a plane-surfaced vertical face, means for slidably securing said wall to the body of the mold, a core secured to said face, and an offset portion formed on the side o-f said press-block and adapted to bear over the upper edge of said wall, whereby the downward motion of said press-block will cause said wall to slide downwardly.

3. In a machine for molding cored building blocks, the combination with a mold wall slidable vertically and second wall pivoted to swing outwardly, of means whereby the outward swinging of said last named wall will cause said first named wall to move vertically.

el. ln a machine for molding cored building blocks, the combination with a mold wall slidable vertically of a tilting mold section comprising a side and bottom wall, and

means whereby the tilting oit said mold section will cause said first named wall to move vertically.

5. In a machine for molding cored building blocks, the combination with a -.trame having standards secured thereto, oit a mold wall slidably mounted for verticalmovement on said standards, a tilting mold section comprising a wall confronting said first named wall and a bottom mold board, said tilting action being about an axis parallel to the line of intersection of the face planes of said tilting members, a yieldable support for said tilting section in its outwardly swung position, and means whereby the weight of said tilting section when applied to said yieldable support will cause a mechanism to be operated for elevating said vertically slidable mold wall.

6. In a machine for molding cored building blocks, the combination with a trame having standards secured thereto, of a mold wall slidably mounted 'for vertical movement on said standards, a tilting mold section comprising a second wall confronting said first named wall and a bottom section secured thereto, the axis of said tilting motion lying parallel to the intersection line of said tilting wall members, a lever pivoted in said frame and having one terminal positioned to serve as a support for said tilting section in its outwardly swung position, and a member secured to said iirst named wall and eoacting with the opposite end of said lever, whereby the weight of said tilting section will depress said supporting terminal and cause said vertically slidable wall to be elevated.

7. In a machine for molding building blocks, the combination with a frame having a cam surface secured thereto of a tilting mold section journaled in said frame, said section comprising a bottom wall and a side retaining wall, a side wall slidably carried by said side retaining wall, and a lever pivoted to the edge ot' said bottom wall and bearing on said cam face, said lever being positioned to bear against the lower edge of said side wall whereby the tilting of said section will cause said lever to swing and slide said side wall on said retaining wall.

8. In a machine for molding cored build-- ing blocks, the combination with a :trame of a mold comprising a plurality of independently movable wall sections, a core member slidably secured for movement into and out of said mold and adapted for vertical movement within said mold, means 'tor actuating said core, and means whereby said core actuating means may be made to lock said core in closed position and at the same time permit of vertical movement of said core member and the wall through which it slides.

9. In a machine for molding cored building blocks, the combination with a trame of a mold comprising a plurality of independently movable wall sections, a rocking lever journaled in said iframe. ways carried by one ot said wall sections, a core member slidably secured for movement into and out of said mold` in said ways, means 'for moving said way carrying wall sect ion vertically, a member engaging said rocking lever, an oscillating locking member journaled in said frame and adapted to lock said mold sect-ions in closed position, and a link connecting said oscillating member with said rocking lever.

10. In a machine for molding cored building blocks, the combination with a iframe having a plurality oit' standards secured thereto of a mold wall section slidably mounted for vertical movement on said standards, a plurality of arms secured to the outer face ot' said wall section and eX- tending outwardly therefrom, said arms forming guiding and supporting ways, a core supporting member slidable in ways, and a core Carried by said member and adapted to be moved into and out oit the mold with the sliding ot said core supporting member.

l1. In a Inachine for molding cored building blocks, the combination with a frame having a plurality of standards secured thereto of a mold comprising a plurality of independently movable wall sections, one of said wall sections being slidably mounted for vertical movementon said standards, a plurality of arms secured to the outer tace of said last named wall section and extending outwardly therefrom, said arms forming guiding and supporting ways, a core supporting member slidable in said ways, a core carried by said member and adapted to be moved into and out of the mold with the sliding of said core supporting member, a pair of rocking levers journaled in said frame, and adapted to engage said core supporting member, a yoke pivotcd in Vsaid standards and capable oit locking said wall sections in closed position, and links connecting said yoke with said rocking levers.

12. In a machine ttor molding cored building blocks, the combination with a frame having a plurality of standards secured thereto of a mold comprising a plurality of independently movable wall sections, one of said wall sections being slidably mounted for vertical movement on said standards, a plurality of arms secured to the outer face of said last named wall section and extending outwardly therefrom, said arms forming guiding and supporting ways, a core supporting member slidable in said ways, a core carried by said member and adapted to be moved into and out of the mold with the sliding of said core supporting member, a pair of rocking levers journaled in said frame, and adapted to engage said core supporting member, a yoke pivoted in said standards and capable of locking said Wall sections in closed position, links connecting said yoke with said rocking levers, a second pair of rocking levers journ'aled co-axially with the first and also engaging said core supporting member, a lever pivoted in said frame and having one terminal extending outwardly on the side opposite said rocking levers, and a link connecting said last lever with said last named rocking levers.

13. In a machine for molding building blocks, the combination with a frame of a rectangular mold, comprising end walls carried on rocking levers journaled in said frame, means for locking said end walls in closed position, said means consisting of cams pivoted in sai'd frame and links connecting said rocking levers and cams, said rocking levers having arcuate faces corresponding with the cam faces of the cams and adapted to be engaged by the same when in looked position, a side wall slidable vertically in said frame, and a tilting section comprising a side and bottom wall journaled for oscillation about an axis parallel to the line of intersection of said walls.

lll. In a machine for molding cored building blocks the combination with a mold wall slidable vertically, of a tilting mold section comprising a side and bottom wall, end walls, and means for locking said end walls in place, said means also locking the tilting mold section in place.

l5. In a machine for molding cored building blocks, the combination with a mold `wall slidable vertically, of a tilting mold the core transversely of the mold, and means operable by the press block for moving the core vertically of the mold.

In testimony whereof, I aliiX my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES P. FLOWERS. Vitnesses:

JOE C. ROELLIN, WILL JUNKENFELD.

Copies ci this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

